{"id":3563,"date":"2017-10-02T17:31:50","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T14:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/?p=3563"},"modified":"2024-05-27T11:59:39","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T08:59:39","slug":"mask-performances-the-yaktovil-and-the-sanni-yakuma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/mask-performances-the-yaktovil-and-the-sanni-yakuma\/","title":{"rendered":"Mask Performances, the <em>Yaktovil<\/em> and the <em>Sanni Yakuma<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"<h5>by Wolfgang Mey<\/h5>\n<p>The south-west coast region of Sri Lanka is known for its elaborate mask dances. Healing rituals (<em>Yaktovil<\/em>) like <em>the Sanni Yakuma<\/em> have been used to treat people made ill by malevolent supernatural beings (<em>yakku<\/em>). Also, a form of masked dance theatre called <em>Kolam <\/em>is still sometimes performed. In these traditions actors wear wooden masks and costumes to express the character of the people or spirits they personify. Recitations are accompanied by drumming on the <em>yak bera<\/em>, the low country drum. The dance style represents the energetic, so called \u201clow country\u201d style. Performances often include fireworks created by burning resin powder.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 20%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-3563 gallery-columns-5 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/sri20.jpg'><img width=\"400\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/sri20.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-747\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-747'>\n\t\t\t\tThe huge mask of <em>Maha Kola Sanniya<\/em>, or \u201cLord of 18 Diseases\u201d includes miniature versions of the masks of yakku or the malevolent supernatural beings creating various illnesses. <span>Etnografiska Museet, Stockholm<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>\n\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<h2><em>Yaktovils<\/em>, the Healing Rituals<\/h2>\n<p>Before the actual healing ritual begins, the patient&#8217;s illness is diagnosed by the leader of the performance (<em>yakedura<\/em>). He identifies the negative influences of the malevolent supernatural beings called <em>yakku<\/em> that have caused the patient&#8217;s illness. He also schedules a favourable day for the ritual. It requires at least two drummers, two dancers, a master of the ceremony, and some helpers. Elaborately designed small structures are erected in front of the patient&#8217;s house, &#8220;palaces&#8221; for the <em>yakku,<\/em> stands for the offerings and an altar. They are skilfully crafted from strips of palm leaf and the trunks of banana perennials.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-3563 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sri-ed-2.jpg'><img width=\"1000\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sri-ed-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-3569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sri-ed-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sri-ed-2-640x410.jpg 640w, https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sri-ed-2-768x492.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-3569'>\n\t\t\t\tThe energetic and poweful dances represent the so called \u201clow country\u201d style. <span>Wolfgang Mey<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>In their complexity, these ceremonies have a clear structure. At the beginning of the ceremony, the Buddha and the great gods are invoked and asked for their support for the successful performance of the nightly ritual. This is followed by elaborate, acrobatic invitation dances, and the malevolent <em>yakku<\/em> are promised lavish gifts, fireworks, and honourable treatment. These dances are extremely dense and concentrated performances that often push the dancers to the limits of their strength.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-3563 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/sri-ed-3.jpg'><img width=\"1000\" height=\"628\" src=\"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/sri-ed-3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-3601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/sri-ed-3.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/sri-ed-3-640x402.jpg 640w, https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/sri-ed-3-768x482.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-3601'>\n\t\t\t\tFrightening pyrotechnical effects are created by throwing resin powder into the flames. <span>Jukka O. Miettinen<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Then a small selection of the <em>yakku<\/em> who have caused the patient&#8217;s illness are invited to the venue. The actors&#8217; masks reveal the illnesses that these malevolent beings symbolise. At the end of the ceremony all these <em>yakku<\/em> receive their gifts and promise the leader of the ceremony to withdraw their sickening influences. One of the most impressive healing ritual is the Sanni Yakuma.<\/p>\n<h2><em>Sanni Yakuma<\/em>, the Pacification of Illnesses<\/h2>\n<p>The diseases causing <em>yakku<\/em> tell their painful history, and in comic and light-hearted interludes, which show how they see the world through the eyes of greed due to their perpetual desire and envy. The actors\u2019 masks reveal the diseases that these malevolent beings symbolise. There are, for example, those who symbolise blindness, digestive problems, body aches and vomiting fits etc. The ritual specialist involves all the <em>yakku<\/em> in dialogues, which are characterised by puns and a hearty and, to the delight of the audience, obscene humour.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-4 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-4 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-4 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-4 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-3563 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sri-ed-4.jpg'><img width=\"611\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sri-ed-4.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-3571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sri-ed-4.jpg 611w, https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sri-ed-4-489x640.jpg 489w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 611px) 100vw, 611px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-3571'>\n\t\t\t\tThe Dupa Paliya purifies the place with smoke, which wards off the evil infuenses. <span>Wolfgang Mey<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Through skilful dialogue, the master of the ceremony manages to expose how the <em>yakku<\/em> suffer from their fate: they are beings of greed and attachment and thus show analogously how the patient suffers from this greed and envy. He exposes the stupidity and narrow-mindedness of the <em>yakku<\/em>&#8216;s world view and portrays them as ignorant, ridiculous, and pitiful beings. At the end of the ceremony, the Lord of 18 Diseases (<em>Maha Kola Sanniya<\/em>) appears. They withdraw their evil influences, and the ceremony ends with a final dance that neutralises any remaining impurities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Wolfgang Mey The south-west coast region of Sri Lanka is known for its elaborate mask dances. Healing rituals (Yaktovil) like the Sanni Yakuma have been used to treat people made ill by malevolent supernatural beings (yakku). Also, a form of masked dance theatre called Kolam is still sometimes performed. In these traditions actors wear [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[36,37,39],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3563"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3563"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3563\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3621,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3563\/revisions\/3621"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}